2008 Porsche 911

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Overview

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2008 Porsche 911 Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

Few cars wear the mantle of automotive icon as gracefully or as righteously as the Porsche 911 Carrera. The basic Carrera lineup now includes Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet body styles, rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations and standard as well as more powerful and sportier "S" variants. While the Carrera 4 all-wheel-drive models add an extra measure of cornering stability and all-season confidence, even the standard Carreras offer dramatic proof that Porsche has overcome virtually every potentially negative characteristic one might ever have associated with a rear-engine vehicle. Dynamically and stylistically, the 2008 Porsche 911 in any guise maintains an intangible mystique that is not matched by such competitors as BMW 6 Series, Cadillac XLR or Lexus SC 430.

You'll Like This Car If...

If owning the world's best all-around sports car has always been one of your life goals, a 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera of any stripe could well be the vehicle for which you've been longing. Steeped in tradition, this thoroughly modern version of Porsche's seminal offering delivers a spectacularly well-sorted combination of power, handling and braking, while remaining very livable as an everyday driver.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Cabin space is modest in all 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera models, a fact that may well put off taller drivers. Minimalist rear seating, limited cargo capacity and the purposefully firmish nature of the suspension tuning, particularly in "S" versions, also could be potential deal breakers.

What's New for 2008

All 911 models offer a new sport bucket seat with folding backrest. The recommended service interval for oil changes is raised to 12,000 miles, while spark plug replacement is recommended every 36,000 miles.

Driving the 911

Driving Impressions The 2008 Porsche 911 is a true sports car, and displays all of the pluses and minuses that go along with the breed. Even the base models are exhilaratingly quick,...

and all have surprisingly neutral handling characteristics that make it hard to believe you're in a rear-engine car. Most owners will find the slightly taut suspension tuning totally acceptable, especially given the outstanding level of control it provides, although some may feel the "S" types with their even stiffer settings and lower-profile tires are a bit too harsh on anything but ultra-smooth road surfaces. In keeping with its high-performance character, Porsche designed the 911's available all-wheel-drive system to always send at least 60 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels.

Favorite Features

VarioCam Plus Technology
Introduced on the 2001 911 Turbo, computer-controlled VarioCam Plus technology varies both the timing and lift of the intake valves to improve the engine's performance and fuel efficiency over its entire operating range.

Sport Chrono Package
Linking the throttle, the Porsche Stability Management system and the Porsche Active Suspension Management, the available Sport Chrono Package permits any 911 model to be driven even more aggressively, and includes a supplemental stopwatch on the dash that automatically keeps tabs on lap times and segment intervals for those times when the car is on a race track.

2008 Porsche 911 Details

Interior

Although the ignition key still slides into a switch located in its traditional position on the left side of the dash, the rest of the 2008 Porsche Carrera 911's interior is decidedly contemporary. Its driver-oriented look and feel is highlighted by highly legible gauges – with black faces on standard Carreras and silver-white on "S" models – a tilt/telescoping steering column and firmly supportive but quite comfortable bucket seats. The diminutive rear "buckettes" are marginal even for kids, but the backs fold flat to offer a bit more stowage space. Despite jettisoning the conventional spare tire for a can of sealant and an air compressor, capacity in the 911's forward-positioned trunk is still a modest 4.5 cubic feet.

Exterior

While its details have changed over time, the 911's basic silhouette remains a universally recognized form. The current generation boasts a wider body, bolder fender flares and more upright headlamps than its predecessor but retains the now-signature rear decklid spoiler that automatically deploys at 75 miles per hour. All Carrera S variants are fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels in place of the 18-inch rims used on standard Carreras, and with even wider and lower-profile performance tires. Targa models have an oversized sliding glass roof panel, while Cabriolets are crowned with a fully lined and insulated one-touch power top that can be raised or lowered in about 15 seconds and at speeds up to 30 mph.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Both the 2008 Porsche Carrera and Carrera S include, as standard equipment, a full array of power assists, keyless remote entry, automatic climate control, leather seating surfaces, cruise control, a tilt/telescoping steering column, six-speed manual transmission, the comprehensive Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system, anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) and an anti-theft immobilizer. The "S" models add larger front brakes, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), an upgrade from 18- to 19-inch wheels and bi-xenon headlamps. All coupes have a power sunroof, all cabriolets a one-touch power top and Carrera4 models are fitted with full-time all-wheel drive. Front, front-side and door-mounted head-protection airbags are standard across the entire 911 lineup.

Optional Equipment

A key upgrade for all Carreras is the multi-faceted Sport Chrono Package that can keep tabs on lap times and intensify throttle response and tweak suspension settings when paired with the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. Also offered are 911 Turbo-type 19-inch two-tone forged alloy wheels and competition-inspired Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB). The S contingent can be further bolstered with a Power Kit that bumps engine output from 355 to 381 horsepower. Other extras include three different seat upgrades, a voice-activated navigation system and a Bose premium audio package, as well as numerous cosmetic tweaks, headed by full leather upholstery and a variety of available interior trim accents, in carbon fiber, aluminum look-stainless steel and dark and light wood.

Under the Hood

All 911 Carrera and Carrera S models are fitted with a rear-mounted flat-six boxer engine that uses Porsche's VarioCam Plus variable cam timing and lift technology to optimize responsiveness and operating efficiency. The Carrera's DOHC 3.6-liter makes 325 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, while output figures for the larger 3.8-liter version in the S models jump to 355 and 295, respectively. Either engine can be matched with the standard six-speed manual transmission or five-speed Tiptronic S automatic with shifter buttons mounted on the steering wheel spokes. Regardless of drivetrain configuration, any member of the 911 clan can hit 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds or less and top out at 170-plus mph.

3.6-liter Boxer-6
325 horsepower @ 6800 rpm
273 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 (manual), 18/24 (automatic)

3.8-liter Boxer-6
355 horsepower @ 6600 rpm
295 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 (manual), 17/24 (automatic)

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2008 Porsche 911 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.5

Out of 10

Based on 113 Ratings for the 2005 - 2008 models.

Review this car

Value

9.5/10

Quality

9.7/10
Reliability

9.7/10

Performance

9.8/10
Comfort

9.3/10

Styling

9.8/10

Easy car to own and operate

By Jack (TX) on Thursday, January 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 30,100

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Fun to own and drive"

Cons: "Strong engine and drive systems"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Excellent second car. Great road car and fun to drive. Very reliable and cost to own and operate has been very low compared to a VW I previously owned."

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